In sport, we use terms such as ''focus on the process'', ''stay in the moment'', '' don't dwell on the past'', ''don't get your head too far into the future''. Cliches aimed at simplifying the task, maintaining balance, removing pressure and concentrating on the job at hand.

In my regular column in The Sun-Herald on Sunday I previewed the much-anticipated clash this Friday between top-of-the-table contenders the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney. We, as footy fans, have been looking forward to this massive clash on the eve of this year's finals series.

Roosters v Titans

The round 25 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Gold Coast Titans at Allianz Stadium on September 1, 2013. Following two consecutive losses, the Sydney Roosters will face South Sydney for the minor premiership on Friday night. Photo: Getty

But, as I talked through the possibilities this contest could deliver, I pointed to the fact that the Roosters couldn't afford to be thinking about this game just yet, because they still had a game to play on Sunday afternoon.

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My warning went: ''Of course, the Roosters cannot be thinking about this match yet. They still have to play a desperate Gold Coast Titans team on Sunday afternoon and, if they have their minds on the big one next Friday, they could well spill their lollies and make themselves vulnerable.''

We've seen a lot of this over the years. A high-flying team such as the Roosters receiving all the write-ups and accolades as they cruise past weaker opponents on their way to the big end-of-season matches. It takes a strong mind and discipline for players not to get too far ahead of themselves. I don't want to take anything away from the Titans' performance because they are entitled to all the platitudes one can muster to describe their courageous 30-22 victory over the Roosters.

But what I saw from the Roosters on Sunday was a totally distracted performance; not a shadow of the team that has played so brilliantly in attack and defence all season.

The home side bumbled their way through 80 minutes of football. They looked as though they were trying to get through this match with as few bruises as possible. Their normally impeccable work ethic and attention to detail has been eroded in the past couple of weeks by poor attitude and poor attitude control.

The first chink in their armour was seen the previous Monday night when Cronulla niggled them and got under their skin. Off went their heads and on went a pumpkin. They conceded 26 unanswered points in the first 40 minutes of football and the result was as good as gone.

The physicality was there but the brains were not in gear.

Maybe they just assumed that whatever ailed them on that night would be readily fixed in time for their clash with the Titans. Maybe they were dismissive of the understrength Titans and had their heads in this Friday's clash with the Rabbitohs.

Maybe they were guilty of believing their own press clippings so much that individual recognition was starting to override the togetherness and team mentality that is so important to success at this level of football.

Whatever the reasons for their poor showing on Sunday, I suggest most of their problems were self-inflicted.

The Roosters played like they were waiting for their opponents to throw in the towel. Oh, how they underestimated the Titans.

Gold Coast are renowned for their grit and fighting abilities. They are a team and a group of players who command the utmost respect. When you play the Titans, you have to play to beat them, because they rarely beat themselves.

Instead, on Sunday, the Roosters offered up a dismal exhibition for their adoring fans.

The visitors, who had few people in the crowd wearing their colours and cheering their names, despite being despised outsiders with the bookies in this two-horse race, produced a gallant 80 minutes of football that was built on enthusiasm, smarts, courage and a never-give-up attitude.

Players repeatedly dragged themselves off the canvas to make one more tackle, one more run, one more chase.

When their more favoured rivals sneaked to the lead inside the last 10 minutes of play, many watching the game were getting ready to feel sorry for the Titans. After all, they had put in such a huge physical effort, only to come up short on the scoreboard.

The Titans, though, are made of much sterner stuff and they certainly were not ready to concede defeat.

They lifted to score the final two tries of the match and thoroughly deserved their victory. The Roosters? Well, they thoroughly deserved the lesson they received.

Maybe this was the reality check they had to have. Maybe this steels them for the big clash against the Rabbitohs and the even bigger challenges of play-off football beyond.

What's certain, though, is that they will have their minds on the job this Friday night.

Attitude can change the world.

15 comments so far

When a team on top of the ladder has to give away almost 2000 tickets to get people into the ground there is something very wrong there! Many of those in the crowd yesterday were not fans of the Roosters or the Titans, but merely enjoying a free Sunday arvo at the footy.

Commenter

jj

Location

sydney

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 7:55AM

Considering were they finished last year to this year, you think there fans would have flocked to the great old sfs... If that happens to be my tigers this time next year, the full house sign will be going up..

Commenter

one eye

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 9:01AM

Firstly, they didn't "have" to give those tickets away. The Roosters have been enjoying significantly increased attendance at their home games all year compared to last year. At least part of this will be the SBW effect.Secondly, surely it's a good thing that a whole bunch of extra people got to enjoy a free footy game on a nice Sunday afternoon and perhaps get a taste for it, so they can return to another game in the future.

Commenter

drewski

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 11:46AM

That maybe true - but the came. And now maybe they will go again on their own accord...and they may look to go to a Roosters game. And Pay.

Marketing can at times means to give tickets away. They still need to turn up. And if you give away 2000 tickets & 2000 turn up, then that is success.

Commenter

Opinion, not cash for comment

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 2:05PM

Souths have had a 2-4-1 offer for the bulldogs game and the upcoming roosters game, so I am trying to figure out what your point is jj?

I should also add the Roosters finished the season off with a home ground average of 19,600 people. How good is that, at least give credit when credit deserved jj.....

Commenter

Ryan

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 4:35PM

During the telecast yesterday, when the titans scored their second try. You asked where is the player playing the ball supposed to go. well the answer is no where. My memory of the rule is that the player playing the ball should not move until the ball clears the ruck. But these days no player abides by any of the rules and the officals do not apply the rules. At the present time EVERY game is being decided by the officals and how they apply the rules to any given game. I would not waste my money going to see a game live while the officals decide the outcome of the game and I know a lot of my friends feel the same way. I am even loosing intrest in watching on tv.

Commenter

The ScareCrow

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 9:17AM

"Platitudes"? "Plaudits"? Whatever!

Commenter

Seamus 1

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 9:24AM

I thought Gould was the Panthers general manager. The cheer leading for the Roosters from him during the TV coverage was sickening.

Commenter

Bear Hunter

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 9:36AM

Gus may be right about attitude, I was at the game and even allowing for the slow start the Roosters always seemed to have the Titans measure, when they hit the front it looked like they were going to put the game away but just a couple of stupid mistakes cost them the game. Still it's not good enough, if they play like that they won't beat Souths.

BTW me and my mates paid for our tickets.

Commenter

mr latte

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 02, 2013, 9:52AM

I thought the Roosters were certainties to run down the Titans yesterday, it was only a matter of when. Seems the Roosters thought so too - they played like they were waiting for someone else to step up.

I hope they were just focusing on Friday, because the Roosters of the last 2 weeks were well off their game, reminiscent of the 2011 Dragons outfit that went off the boil after the bookies paid out on their minor premiership in round 15....... and once humpty dumpty falls off the boil, it's very hard to put those pieces back together again. The only thing that should be comforting Roosters is knowing that the Bunnies are phoning in a few very ordinary patches in games as well.

In fact, the 2013 finals series is shaping to be a very interesting one. We have a clear top 4, but they've all shown themselves to have a real shocker in them. With the Dragons safe from the wooden spoon (and very safe from having to play finals footy) I can settle in and watch it all unfold.